Senior Director, Operational Excellence & Lean

Jack Link's; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 195,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision benefits

Life and disability insurance

401k participation

Paid holidays and paid time off

Job summary

Link Snacks is seeking a Sr. Director of Operational Excellence to lead the company-wide continuous improvement strategy across manufacturing sites.

You will build the framework grounded in lean principles, problem solving, and performance management to ensure a sustainable manufacturing excellence program. You will develop training, tools, and a network of CI champions, track targets and KPIs, and collaborate with safety to embed improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in operations, manufacturing, supply chain, business, engineering, food science, or related field or equivalent experience.
• 7–10 years experience in a manufacturing environment, including a leadership role.
• 5+ years in influencing roles such as CI, Lean, or support functions.
• Experience with statistical process control, root cause analysis, or other analytical methods.
• Training with value stream mapping, kaizen methods, 5S, leader standard work, and other Lean tools.
• Project management experience leading cross-functional teams to deliver on timelines, budgets, and goals.
• Experience developing or implementing a MOS playbook and CI program across sites.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Continuous Improvement strategy and roadmap across all factories.
• Establish common CI methodology, tools, governance, terminology, and expectations.
• Standardize Lean practices, problem solving, daily management, standard work, and performance improvement.
• Advance Lean manufacturing practices including 5S, value-stream mapping, and root-cause analysis.
• Develop CI training, tools, playbooks and learning programs.
• Build a network of plant-level CI champions to accelerate adoption.
• Track KPIs with Plant Leadership; drive action plans to close gaps.
• Own KPI visibility and KPI charting across teams.
• Turn complex operational data into clear insights using Power BI and SAP.
• Apply analytics to identify opportunities and support decisions.
• Track and deliver cost savings aligned with standards.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Project management

Lean / Continuous improvement

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in operations, manufacturing, supply chain, business, engineering, food science, or related field

Tools

SAP

Power BI

Job description

Link Snacks is seeking a Sr. Director of Operational Excellence to lead the company-wide continuous improvement strategy across manufacturing sites.

You will build the framework grounded in lean principles, problem solving, and performance management to ensure a sustainable manufacturing excellence program. You will develop training, tools, and a network of CI champions, track targets and KPIs, and collaborate with safety to embed improvements.